Feelings

Prompt: How about Stoick being peer pressured into dating a girl he had absolutely no interest in. Then, he meets and falls for Valka, and finally leaves that girl to be with someone he actually enjoys being with... :)

Being the chief's son is a lot to live up to. But, of course Stoick 'The Vast' Haddock had no problem with that. His father was always so proud of him.

Expect for when Stoick refused to choose a bride.

Stoick is twenty six. He doesn't need someone holding him back.

All of his friends are getting married, one by one, being picked off into the world of marriage and babies.

Soon, Stoick was the only one of his friends to not have a wife and 2.5 kids.

And on comes the pressure.

The next time Stoick heard "Hey Stoick, my daughter is of marrying age," he didn't look twice at who it was, and said "Okay, I accept."

The daughter ended up being the new girl on the island, Erika.

Of course, being traditional as he is, Stoick courted her before he proposed.

Sitting with all his friends and Erika one day during lunch, he noticed something he never did before.

Or, make that, someone.

Valka Jorgenson, unofficial hiccup of Berk, had grown up into a beautiful woman right before his eyes.

They had met before, Stoick being Spitelout's closest friend, but never had a real conversation.

"Stoick?" Erika asked

"What?"

"Are you alright? You're staring off into space."

"Hm? I'm fine."

Because he was...

Sort of.

A month past and without Stoick really understanding, he became really good friends with Valka.

It was a weird friendship, with Stoick being ten years older than her made people on edge about the friendship, but at the same time, they haven't seen the heir smile that much since his mom died.

Valka, being only sixteen, didn't really understand what was so wrong about being friends with an almost married man. It's not like she's sleeping with him.

She's not sure if she even likes him in that way.

Stoick was walking up to her house when he smelt something burning.

"Val!" He yelled, throwing open the door. He saw his best friend covered in flower and eggs and trying to put out a fire with a towel.

"What in Thor's name is going on!?" Stoick bellowed

Valka looked over and almost burst into tears "I tried to make dinner! And I burnt the bread, and I can't do anything right!" Valka sobbed

"Whoa, whoa, Val." Stoick walked over and gripped her flour and egg covered shoulders "Get a grip. You can do things right. Just- not this."

Valka scratched her forehead "Stoick, why can't I cook?"

"I don't know. I'm sure you'll learn. You're sixteen. You have time."

Valka picked at her tunic "Not much."

"Of course you have time. Why won't think that you don't have-" at that point, Valka looked at him, almost crying again "No." Valka's lower lip trembled and tears burned her eyes. "NO!"

"In two weeks..." Whispered Valka

Stoick looked up and absentmindedly tighten his grip on her shoulders "Ow, Stoick."

"I have to go..."

"I don't know what you want to do Stoick. I can't stop Snoutlot from marrying off his daughter." Said the chief

"She's not ready yet Dad!" Shouted Stoick

The Chief rubbed his forehead "Son, you too are getting married soon. Why does it matter that some girl is getting married off?"

"Valka isn't some girl! This guy could be some creep! He could use her as a sex slave! I don't know!"

The Chief stood abruptly "Son!" He said sharply "Have you fallen for the Jorgenson girl?"

Stoick took a step back. He hasn't really thought about it. But now that his father said something about it, Stoick does smile more around Valka then Erika. He laughs more around Valka.

"No, of course not." Stoick half lied

Chief gripped his shoulders "Son! Push those feelings down. If I hear one thing about you and the Jorgenson girl, I will have no choice but to disown you."

"Dad-!"

"No! You are marrying Erika, and that's final."

"What do you mean you can't see me anymore?" Asked Valka

"I can't okay. You're getting married, I'm getting married, and it's better off if we just... end this now before it gets complicated." Said Stoick

"Complicated. Is that what our friendship is? Complicated?" Tears were building in Valka's eyes

"No, Val... look, you mean a lot to me, and-and I don't want to hurt you-"

"Too late." Valka stood up and started for the door of the Great Hall.

"Val!" Shouted Stoick

"Don't call me that!" Screamed Valka, making everyone look at them "Don't ever talk to me again."

Valka began to regret her choice about five minutes later when her brother pushed her against a wall.

"Who the Hel do you think you are?! You broke Stoick's heart!"

"What heart? He's a stone cold killer. Just like the rest of you!"

"Don't take this out on me Valka!"

"HE LEFT ME!" Valka shouted

"Because his dad's making him! Valka, you may not believe me, but Stoick is in love with you, he may not realize it yet, but he is. Stoick wouldn't do anything to hurt you..." Valka looked away, refusing to let Spitelout see her cry. "It's okay to cry..."

"Leave me alone Spitelout..."

Spitelout sighed and started to walk away, then he turned and looked at his younger sister "You know, Stoick and Erika are getting married in two days, you can't stop it..."

Stoick was ramming his axe into a tree, taking out his frustration on the poor tree.

"Stoick..." The Valkyrie's voice said from behind him. He turned and there she was, looking nervous and playing with her hair "... I got out of the marriage... I told him that I couldn't marry him, when I'm in love with someone else..."

Stoick dropped his axe "You don't mean that..."

Valka shrugged "I do..."

"Valka..." Sighed Stoick

"Please," Valka held up a hand "Give me the satisfaction of actually believing that you return the feelings."

Stoick looked at his axe "I do... that's the problem."

"How is that a problem?" asked Valka

"My dad said I have to marry Erika."

"Oh…" Valka looked down "Well, there you have it. I guess we weren't meant to be together…"

"Val…"

Valka raised her hand "Let's just forget this ever happened, okay Stoick." She started to walk away, but turned and smiled feebly "Goodbye Stoick…"

And then she ran away.

On the day of the wedding, Stoick was cleaning under his finger nails when his dad walked in.

"Son," The chief coughed

"Yeah dad?"

"Snoutlout and Ingrid Jorgenson were wondering if you knew where Valka is, I told them you weren't-"

"Valka's missing?" Asked Stoick

"They think so, but-"

"I'll find her." Stoick grabbed his axe

"What about the wedding."

Stoick looked at his father "I can't marry Erika. She's a great girl, but I don't love her."

"What does love have to do with anything these days Stoick? You need an heir."

"And you'll get one." Smirked Stoick

"From who? The Jorgenson girl? She's not worthy of you."
"And Erika is? Why don't you like Valka?"

"Because I just don't!"

"You know what dad. I don't care anymore. Disown me, it only matters if I have Valka." With that, Stoick walked out

Valka watched the waves crash onto the shore of Berk. It was almost dusk. Stoick would be getting married soon. Valka put her head in her knees and took a breath.

"Val?"

Valka perked up "Stoick?" She turned her head and saw him. She stood up and Stoick ran to her. He grabbed her hands and smiled at her.

"Thank Odin you're okay. Val, why did you run away?" he asked

"Because… I couldn't watch you… I—I didn't—because I felt like it. I don't have to explain anything to you." She ripped her hands away

"Please, Val, just listen to me."

"No. I don't have to listen to anything you have to say!"

Valka started to walk away, but stopped when she heard Stoick's voice "I love it when fake being mad at me, but really you just want to pick a fight you know you can win. I love it when try to fight in, but you end up making a fool of yourself and you get that adorable blush. I love that you are the last thing on my mind at night, and the first thing I think about in the morning. I love when we hug you fit perfectly in my arms. But most of all, I love you. You get me, you understand me, you know how to calm me down. You're not afraid to hurt my feelings. I love you Valka Jorgenson." Stoick grabbed her hands again and kneeled down "Now, if you will have me, I want to be with you for the rest of our lives. I don't want to be with anyone else, but you. Will you marry me?"

"What about being chief?" she asked

"If being chief means giving you up, then I don't want to. I want to marry you."

Valka smiled "Let's do it…"

Stoick ran into the Great Hall with Valka. They ran straight to his dad and the chief looked at them.

"What?" he asked

"Marry us." Stated Stoick

"What are you talking about son?" asked the Chief

"We want to be married. Right now." Smiled Stoick

The Chief looked at Snoutlout, who shrugged

"I've got nowhere else to be."

"Daddy." Valka said

"I mean, I would love to give my only daughter to you right now." Deadpanned Snoutlout.

Valka rolled her eyes. The Chief shrugged, and so Stoick and Valka were married right there, clothes soaked from the rain.

Later, Stoick was talking to Spitelout and Gobber when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He turned and saw his father.

"Stoick, I'd like to say I'm sorry… the way I acted about Valka was beyond me. She's a lovely girl, and seems to love you very much."

"So… what are you saying?" asked Stoick

"You can be heir again." Smiled the Chief "It was a very bold, and chiefly thing of you to do what you did. I'm proud of you you…"

The Chief hugged Stoick.

Valka looked over from where she was standing and smiled.

This is a great way to end her wedding night…